Before we begin please let us join together and pray for the safety of the people in Japan who have encountered a very devastating Tsunami and earthquake….

Ps- I think I am running out of ideas to write about, so if you guys don't mind I am issuing a FIVE topic challenge for myself… Please suggest for me a bakugan pairing [not including Fabia any Gundalians if you don't mind] and a theme to write about. And I will make a little collection of little stories upon that theme….Note- only the first FIVE challenges shall be considered… If the topic is SO amazing then I will consider a SIXTH as well… Please, if you don't mind include it in your review.

Naively Clueless

crystal-mist

Chapter 4

Twelve-year old Runo was sitting in her class when Baron -one of her friends- approached her.

"Yo Runo… Here's some classified."

"If it is classified then why are you telling me?" she retorted looking at the pink-haired guy before her.

"Simple…Because, it involves you…" he answered sitting down beside her.

She sighed. "Tell me then."

"Just promise me that you won't hurt me for telling you."

Runo grew more suspicious. It sounded like she wasn't going to like this 'information'.

"Alright…I promise." She then listened intently to what he had to say.

"You see...Klaus, he's fallen for you…And he is going to tell you how he feels."

A blush tinted her cheeks as he said this

"Listen…I DO NOT feel that way-"
But Baron cut her short. "Alright, so perhaps 'is' going to tell you isn't the right term…'was' going to tell you last week… Then something unexpected happened." He paused for a bit. "Klaus told his older brother that he was about to confess to you… And his older brother told his best friend."

"So exactly how many people know?"

"Listen Runo, the good part is just coming… And his older brother's best friend told Klaus not to be so 'conceited'...He discouraged Klaus, saying that there was this very HUGE possibility that he would get rejected. And that he should pay more attention to 'who' he was confessing to …And that you deserved better than him. And that he should wait and observe how you feel before confessing…What's more… it looked like he was more 'trying to protect you' than 'giving Klaus advice'. "

Runo's eyes widened as she heard this. "No way…" she muttered uneasily.

"You want to know who that senior was?" questioned Baron.

Runo was a bit doubtful whether she should ask. "Yes."

"It was none other than the great Daniel-sama."

Runo's jaw dropped open. Dan…no way. Suddenly she remembered a conversation she had with him about four days ago.

"Hey Runo…Do you like Klaus?" asked Dan on their way home.

Runo looked at him with a confused expression. "What's with that question all of a sudden?"

"Just answer kid."

"I told you NOT to call me kid." She then settled down. "Such a strange question…You want to know what Klaus is like? Well honestly, he is just a conceited jerk… He is so full of himself…I mean; he is so big-headed. He gets on my nerves like all the time. He is one of my least favourite people in class."

"Oh…" replied Dan.

"SO why did you want to know?" she asked.

"No reason…" he paused for a bit and tried to improvise a reason. "Because Klaus's older brother is in my class."

"AH…Don't tell his older brother what I just told you."

"Don't worry… I won't." said Dan with an unnaturally big smile on his face.

"Wow Runo, this is the first time I've seen you speechless like this." stated Baron in amazement. "You are lucky to have Daniel-sama looking out for you … He is such a reliable guy."

Runo could feel herself blushing. Dan, that idiot, what had he done?

That evening, on the way back home Runo was unnaturally quiet. This uncomfortable silence hung in the atmosphere.

"Runo…What's with the eerie silence?"

She refused to talk to him.

"Runo?"

"….."

Dan sighed in defeat. "What's wrong?"

"….."

"What's the matter? You look a tad angry."

"Stop meddling in my life, DANIEL."

"Wow…What have I done to make you this mad?"

"You…" but then she stopped midway. She decided that it was better if she didn't tell him on the street. If she did, then she may end up shouting at him then and there. She quickened her steps.

Dan only sighed as he hurried to keep up with her.

That evening even when they were playing Runo refused to talk to Dan.

"Looks like somebody is angry with you." Muttered Julie as she nudged Dan in the ribs.

Dan's P.O.V

Alright, now I am puzzled. Runo is angry. I am pretty sure that I haven't done something to make her this enraged. She is so totally avoiding me. What is going on with her?

She spent two days giving me the silent treatment. Honestly, I didn't think that she would stay mad this long…

Then I went to the terrace of my apartment building to get some fresh air as I heard songs from my iPod.

When I reached there, I saw Runo there. She was hanging the laundry out.

I smiled to myself and decided that it was 'now or never'. So I headed in her direction.

"Hey Runo." I greeted.

She barely looked at me and continued her chore.

"Aw come on Runo…Don't you think this has gone on long enough?"

"….."

"You know, it is a bit awkward that I have these one-sided conversations with you."

"You have no right to interfere in my life."

"Honestly, Runo what's wrong? I really can't understand why you are so cold to me and not anyone else."

"Of course you wouldn't understand."

"Huh?"

It felt awkward to the both of them. It was a strange mood and they couldn't comprehend the queer emotions that dwelled in their hearts. "What was the deal with Klaus?" she asked him at last.

"What about him?"

"Oh come on Dan; you and I both know what I am implying."

"I don't."

"Something about 'being conceited' and 'waiting to find out how she feels'."

His eyes widened in shock as he heard her say this. "Wait…How did you come to know?"

"So this is hush-hush business now, is it?"

"Alright…so I interfered a little bit…What's the big deal?" he asked her.

Dan was so uneasy. Even in his wildest dreams he hadn't imagined the scenario of Runo 'knowing' about how he stopped Klaus's confession.

"Do you know what this 'interference' looked like? It looked as if you were trying to protect me than to give him advice."

"Then that is perfectly true… I was trying to protect you." He answered before thinking twice.

Runo was so completely taken aback that she didn't know how to respond.

"I don't need your 'protection'. I can do just fine on my own." She stated shortly as she hid her embarrassment and glared at him.

"I was just trying to help you…You know, It's weird; it's awkward to be in the same room with someone whom you rejected and you definitely can't talk to them like you normally would." He said sincerely.

"When were you crowned King of all emotions?"

"Hey, I just told him to rethink his decision… It's not like I claimed that you were mine or something…" he then stopped short as a heavy blush covered his cheeks.

He looked like he could have kicked himself for saying that one. But Runo didn't notice this because she was too busy rewinding what he just said.

Dan was so speechless that he did not know what to say… There was only one way he could divert Runo's attention.

"Or is it that you wanted him to confess to you so that you could accept and be his girlfriend."

"Shut up Dan, I am TWELVE…"

"So?"

Now once again anger took over all the emotions in Runo's heart. "You are so despicable… What the? You are so obnoxious…I mean why were you even remotely concerned about what was happening in my life?"

"I-"

But she cut him short. "What? So you don't think that I can handle such situations."

"Well yeah...Cause frankly Runo, even though you are tough on the outside. Admit it you are a big softie inside."

"Shut up, I would've done fine..."

"I disagree."

"What do you think I am? A little kid who needs others to look after her?"

"Uh…is that a trick question?"

"Don't you dare interfere again!"

"What'll you do if I do?" he taunted her. He now had a playful tone in his voice.

"I…I'll throw a shoe at you."

"Wow…Is that the best threat you can come up with?" as he saw her fumed face a smirk tugged at his lips. "Yeah right."

Just then a shoe came flying towards him but missed him by at least a foot or two.

He just stared at Runo, who was standing in front of him with one of her feet bare.

"Hey Runo-" Just as he started his next question she threw her other shoe at him.

"I don't want to be seen as a burden…by anyone." She shouted at him as she threw it.

But sadly, once again, it missed Dan by quite a large margin.

"If you think that I am missing on purpose then you are mistaken." She shouted again.

Dan's face softened a bit as he looked at her. She was surprised by the sudden change in his expression.

A subtle smile lit up his face. "You really are angry, aren't you?" he asked softly as he gazed at her.

He slid his feet out of his slippers. He then slid one of them towards Runo. "I am sorry…" he said still with that smile on his face. "Go ahead…Cool off your anger."

Runo just stared at the slipper. She was so confused by his sudden actions.

Before she could contemplate about it too much she took it and flung it at Dan.

It missed him again.

"Wow…You really have terrible aim don't you?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Listen, this is the limit of my leniency alright? You get only ONE more try." He said as he slid his second slipper to her. "Last try Runo…Don't waste it."

She took hold of his slipper, but instead of throwing it at him she threw it to the ground. Before Dan could reflect over the logic of her action she was right beside him.

"I hate you for this…" she stated in a low voice as she lightly punched his shoulder.

Dan knew that she hadn't put too much effort into that punch.

"You mean it?" he asked.

"Of course I don't…" she then looked directly at him. "Just don't do it again…It could give a lot of people the wrong impression."

"I was only looking out for you." He said.

"I know…I mean it…I know, but next time, have a little more faith in me. And trust me to handle the situation appropriately." She said before she picked up the bucket at her feet.

"Hm…Right…"

As Runo walked away, she was puzzled. What was with this sudden mood-swing? Just a few seconds ago she could've ripped Dan's head off for interfering but now she didn't feel so bad about it.

Perhaps he really had helped her…

He was right; it would've been awkward to hang around guys whom you've rejected; very awkward indeed like she would soon find out.

And why exactly had Dan allowed her to throw stuff at him? His gesture of giving her his slippers really had surprised her.

She smiled at herself as she opened the door to her home. "Oh well…I shouldn't think too much about it perhaps."

Well, I actually kind of decreased the size of the argument they had that day. It was long and arduous… And it was tiring; really it was even more tiring to decide which goes where…

Do you think 'I'll throw a shoe at you?' Was a stupid comeback and a bit off the mark? I do too…

But what am I to do with the mind of an uncreative little twelve year old?

Anyways thanks for reading…

Please review Kay?